Berth light



B. G. COPPING July 3, 1962 BERTH LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1959 llqllr Q INVENTOR. Jim/v q-ra pflva y 3, 1962- B. G. COPPING 3,042,798

BERTH LIGHT Filed May 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent York Filed May 7, 1959, ser. No. 811,669 13 Ciaims. (Cl. 240-78) The instant invention relates to lighting fixtures in general and more particularly to a fixture in which the lamp shade may be selectively disposed within and withdrawn from a recess and when withdrawn from the recess the lamp shade may be rotated so as to direct light to a selected portion of an extensive area.

Aboard ship and often on land thereare many applications requiring beds foldable into Wall recesses. Associated with the folding beds are lamps for reading purposes and general lighting of the bed area. Thus, these lamps must be foldable into wall recesses so as not to interfere with folding of the beds. The lamps when removed from their recesses must be positionable so as to direct light over a selected portion of an extensive area.

These features are included in the. device of the instant invention by providing a wall box and a cover assembly therefor which comprises a faceplate having a joint means mounted at one of its ends to the side of the faceplate which faces the inside of the wall box. A lamp shade secured to the other end of the joint means is disposed on the other side of the faceplate.

The joint means is constructed to permit the lamp shade to move into and out of a faceplate recess by pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the faceplate. Once the lamp shade is withdrawn from the faceplate recess the shade is then pivotable through substantially 360 about an axis transverse to the axis of the path which light rays are directed by the lamp shade.

The joint is constructed of two hollow cylindrical members joined, at right angles at a pivotal connection. As will be hereinafter explained, a single compression spring is utilized to supply the forces which frictionally restrain relative movement between the hollow cylindrical member as well as between the joint means and the faceplate.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel construction for a recessed-type lamp fixture which is economical to produce and is more compact than prior art devices of the same type.

Another object is to provide a recessed-type lamp fixture in which the lamp shade is secured to one end of a joint means and is disposed on one side of a faceplate to which the other end of the joint means is secured on the other side of the faceplate.

Still another object is to provide a novel joint means for a recessed type lamp fixture.

A further object is to provide a novel joint comprised of two tubular members, one pivotally mounted to a fixed member and the other pivotally mounted to said one member with a single spring means being utilized to restrain pivotal movement of both tubular members.

These as well as other objects of the instant invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a recessed lamp fixture, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, mounted to a wall.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the faceplate and the members mounted thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a top viewof' the lamp shade, partly sectioned, illustrating the securement of the joint means and the lamp socket to the lamp shade.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partly sectioned, of the lamp fixture of; FIGURE 1 with the shade assembly removed.

3,@42,798 Patented July 3, 1962 FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 with the lamp shade withdrawn from the recess.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the lamp fixture in the position of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section of a modified joint means construction taken through line 7-7 of FIGURE 7A looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 7A is a cross-section taken through line 7A 7A of FIGURE 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is an end view of one of the clamp members of the modification of FIGURE 7 looking in the direction of arrows 88.

Now referring to the figures, the recessed lighting fixture 10 is comprised of an open sided generally rectangular wall box 11 having weakened areas defining knockouts 11a, 11b for passage of current carrying conductors (not shown). The open side of box 11 is covered by a faceplate assembly 12. Wall box 11 is adapted to be secured to wall 13 after being inserted into wall opening 14 with the outwardly turned lip 15 of box 11 abutting Wall 13. The securement of box 11 to wall 13 is made by means well known to the art such as bracket and fastening means 101, 102.

Bracket tilt is U-shaped to receive wall box 11 which is secured thereto by studs 10! extending inwardly from box 1459 which cooperate with nuts 102. The free ends 194 of bracket arms abut the inner surface of wall 13 to prevent outward movement of fixture 10.

Faceplate assembly 12 comprises faceplate 16, joint means 17 which is mounted at one end thereof to faceplate 16, and lamp shade assembly 18 which is mounted to joint means 17 at the other end thereof.

Lamp shade assembly 18 comprises an open ended elongated somewhat comically-shaped shade 19 having secured thereto and disposed therein at the closed end thereof a bracket 20 to which bulb receptacle 21 is mounted, in a manner well known to the art. Incandescent lamp 22 is removably mounted in receptacle 21.

Faceplate 16 is provided with formations defining a recess 27, which is of a shape conforming to half of the external surface of lamp shade 19 so thatsubstantially half of shade assembly 18 may be entered therein (FIG- URE 1). Three flat head screws 23 passing through clear-- ance holes 25 in faceplate 16, with the heads thereof disposed in depressions 26 at the back of recess 27, mate with the threads of apertures in box 11 thereby removably securing faceplate assembly 12 to wall box 11. I

Joint means 17 comprises two cylindrical tubular members 30, 31 which are secured together by clamp 32 with their longitudinal axes in transverse intersecting relationship. Tube member 39 has a spherical closure at one end and is open at the other end while tube member 31 is open at both ends thereofv The longitudinal opening through tube member 31 is in alignment with shade opening 29 for the passage of wires (not shown) from bulb receptacle 21 through tube member 31 to the interior of wall box 11.

A ballmember or sphere 33 is disposed in tube member St at the closed end thereof and a square rod 34 passes through a similarly shaped opening in sphere 33 located at a diameter thereof. The ends of rod 34' are rigidly secured to brackets 35 by set screws 36. Brackets 35 are welded or otherwise secured to faceplate 16 on the side thereof facing the interior of wall box 1-1. The

r square cross-sections of rod 34 and its receiving aperture through sphere 33, together with the rigid securement of rod 34, prevent rotation of sphere 33. Y

Clamp. 32 includes an element 40 which bears against the outer surface of tube member 31 and is positioned between the outwardly turned lip 41 at one end of member 31 and stop 42 which extends radially from member 31 at apoint intermediate the ends thereof. Stop 43,

7 ing elements.

'secured to clamp element 40, is positioned in the path of stop 42 and cooperates therewith to limit the relative rotation between tube members 30, 31 to 360 less the thickness of stops 42, 43.

Joint means 17 further includes a partially loaded com 7 pression spring 47 disposed within tube member 30. Halfround friction member 48, disposed at one end of spring 7 47, is biased thereby against the outer surface of tube member 31. Friction member 49, having a spherically shaped pocket, is disposed at one end of spring 47 and is biased thereby into engagement with sphere 33. v The other end of tube member 31 extends through faceplate slot 50 and is provided with radially extending wings 45 which abut the external surface of shade 19. Screws'46 pass through clearance openings in wings 45 into tapped openings 45a inybracket 20 thereby securing shade assembly 18 to jointrneans 17 and securing bracket position of FIGURE 5, tube member pivots about sphere 33 which is disposedbetween brackets and maintained against rotation by square rod 34 which extends through aligned round openings 60 in tube member 30. One end of joint means 17 extends through opening in faceplate 16 which provides clearance for joint means 17 as shade 19 is moved between the positions of FIGURES l and 5. When shade 19 is in the position of FIGURE 5, it may be rotated through substantially 360 about a pivotal axis defined by the cylindrical axis of tube member 31.

' It is to be noted'that the pivotal axis defined by tube member 31 is transverse to the longitudinal axis of shade 19 so thatlight from lamp 22 may be directed to a selected portion of an extensive area. This efiect is further increasedby locating the pivotal axis for shade 19 defined by rod 34 and tube member 31 in non-intersecting relationship. That is, the planes in which the pivotal axes are located are positioned at right angles to one another.

FIGURES 7-8 illustrate a modified construction for a joint means in which the tube members 70, in which ball 1 33 is disposed is provided with clamp portion-71 molded integrally therewith. The other tube member 72 is rotatably mounted to tube member 70 by clamp member 74.

fastened to clamp portion 71'by screws'75. As should be evident the opening 50 must be widened to accommodate clamp member 74. The other reference numerals utilized in FIGURES 7-8 which are duplicates of those reference numerals of the other figures indicate correspond- With both embodiments of the joint means the single spring 47 drives both friction members 48, 49 against 'tube member 31 and 'ball 33, respectively. Thus, the 1'6flCCtOlf19 will remain in'the position 'to which it is 'moved in spite of the effect of gravity. 1 f i surface of wall 13 as well as to a support column, structural member, or at any other convenient location.

While the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments and applications, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be made therein that fall Within the broader spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1 A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open side, a face plate forming a closure for said open side, a joint means secured to said face plate at one'side thereof facing the inside of said box, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said faceplate and secured to said joint means; a recess defined by a formation in said faceplate; said jointmeans being constructed to permit said shade to be entered into and withdrawn from said recess; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis. a

2. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open side, a face plate forming a closure for said open side, a joint means secured to said face plate at one side thereof facing the inside of said bo'x, a lamp shade disposed on the other sideof said face plate and secured to said joint means; a recess defined by a formation in said face plate; said joint means being constructed 'to permit said shade to be entered into and withdrawn said second member cylindrical axis; "said joint means.

further'including a spherical member disposed within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed within' said first member, and friction means at opposite ends of said'spring means urged into engagement with said spherical member and said second member; said first member having a closure at its said first end forming a seat forf'said sphericalmember.

, '3. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open sidefa face plate forming a closure fors'aidopen side, a joint meanssecured to saidfa ce plate at one side thereof facing the inside of said box, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of-said face plate and secured to said joint means; a re'cessdefined by a formation in said face plate; said joint means being constructed to permit said shade :to be entered into and withdrawn 'Ball 33has been illustratedias being secured against rotation with respect to faceplate 16 by means of rod 34 and brackefs'35. The same 'efifect may be obtained by formingthe ball integrally with the faceplate. Inthisf thereof to a position inside a wall. I The term recess merelyfrefers to the fact that lamp shade assembly 18 is adapted to be partially entered into faceplate recess 27.'

Clcarly,,wal1;box 11 may be mounted upon the external from said recess; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shadepositioned transverse'with respect to each other; said joint means also including, a first and asecond tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured totone another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal'axis.

' being positioned perpendicular .to said first member cylindrical axis; said. second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member. cylindrical axis; said-zjoint means 7 further including a spherical'member disposed within said engagement with said spherical member and said second member; said first member having a closurea t its said first end formin ga seat for said spherical member; means for maintaining said spherical member against rotation While permitting pivotal movement of said first member relative to said spherical member.

4. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open side, a face plate forming a closure for said open side, a joint means secured to said face plate at one side thereof facing the inside of said box, a lamp shade disposed on the other side or" said face plate and secured to said joint means; a recess defined by a formation in said face plate; said joint means being constructed to permit said shade to be entered into and withdrawn from said recess; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lampshade positioned transverse With respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another With their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial With said second member cylindrical axis; said joint means further including a spherical member disposed Within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed Within said first member, and friction means at opposite ends of said spring means urged into engagement With said spherical member and said second member; said first memher having a closure at its said first end forming a seat for said spherical member; means for maintaining said spherical member against rotation While permitting pivotal movement of said first member relative to said spherical member; clamp means securing said second member to said first member for movement in unison therewith; said clamp means also permitting said second member to rotate relative to said first member.

5. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open side, a face plate forming a closure for said open side, a joint means secured to said face plate at one side thereof facing the inside of said box, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said face plate and secured to said joint means; a recess defined by a formation in said face plate; said joint means being constructed to permit said shade to be entered into and Withdrawn from said recess; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse With respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another With their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said joint means further including a spherical member disposed Within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed within said first member, and friction means at opposite ends of said spring means urged into engagement with said spherical member and said second member; said first member having a closure at its said first end forming a seat for said spherical member; means for maintaining said spherical member against rotation While permitting pivotal movement of said first member relative to said spherical member; clamp means securing said second member to said first member for movement in unison therewith; said clamp means also permitting said second member to rotate relative to said first member; said face plate having an opening therein through which said second member extends for all angular positions of said first member.

6. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a box having an open side, a face plate forming a closure for said open side, a joint means secured to said face plate at one side thereof facing the inside of said box, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said face plate and secured to said joint means; a recess defined by a formation in said face plate; said joint means being constructed to permit said shade to be entered into and Withdrawn from said recess; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said lamp shade being fixedly secured to said second member.

7. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof by means extending through an aperture in said plate; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said means extending through said aperture comprising a tubular member having said lamp shade secured thereto; said tubular member having its tubular axis defining said second pivotal axis.

8. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another With their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said second member being movable through an aperture in said plate as said lamp shade is moved about said first pivotal axis.

9. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said joint means further including a spherical member disposed Within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed within said first member, and friction means at opposite ends of said spring means urged into engagement with said spherical member and said second member; said first member having a closure at its said first end forming a seat for said spherical member.

10. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed,

on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first, pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said joint means further including a spherical member disposed within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed Within said first member, and

prisinga plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second'pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respect to each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical member pivotally secured to one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positionedperpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being coaxial ,with said second member cylindrical axis; said joint means further including a spherical member'dispo'sed within said first member at a first end thereof, a compression spring means disposed within said first member, and friction means at oppositends of said spring means urged into engagement with aid spherical member and said second member; said first member having a closure at its said first end forming a seat for said spherical member; means for maintaining said spherical member against rotation while permitting pivotal movement of said first member relative to said spherical member; clamp means securing said second member to said first member for movement in unison therewith; said clamp means also permitting said second member to rotate relative to said first member.

'12. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one. end thereof to' said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of said plate and secured to said joint means at the other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lamp shade positioned transverse with respectto each other; said joint means also including a first and a second tubular cylindrical me'rn ber pivotally secured torone another with their.

cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second pivotal axis being means urged into engagement with said spherical member and saidseoondmember; said first member having a closure at its said first end forming a seat for said spherical member; means for maintaining said spherical mem ber against rotation while permitting pivotal movement of said first member relative to said spherical member; clamp means securing said second member to said first member for movement in unison therewith; said clamp means also permitting said second member to rotate relative to said first member; sald lamp shade being elongated and having the longitudinal axis thereof positioned in transverse intersecting relationship with said second pivotal axis.

13. In a recessed lamp fixture the combination comprising a plate, a joint means secured at one end thereof to said plate at a first side thereof, a lamp shade disposed on the other side of'said plate and secured to said joint means at the. other end thereof; said joint means including a first and a second pivotal axis for said lampshade positioned transverse with respect to' each other; said joint means also including a first and a second-tubular cylindrical member pivotally securedto one another with their cylindrical axes transverse and intersecting; said first pivotal axis being positioned perpendicular to said first member cylindrical axis; said second. pivotal axis being coaxial with said second member cylindrical axis; said ment of said first member relative to said spherical member; clamp means securing said second member to said first member for movement in unison therewith; said clamp means also permitting said second member to rotate relative to said first member; said lamp shade being elongated and having the longitudinal axis thereof positioned in transverse intersecting relationship with said second pivotal axis; said lamp shade being fixedly secured to said second member; said plate having an opening therein through which said second member ,extends for all'angular positions of said first member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,636,979 Schwartz Apr. 28, 1953 r 2,678,381 Schwartz May 1-1, 1954 2,816,216 Dasher Dec. 10', 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Swivelier Co., Mar. 29 1949. 

